Method of and apparatus for packing articles

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for packing collated assemblies of elongate articles of rectangular cross-section in tubular cartons, which involves folding first and second rectangular cardboard blanks about the assembly so that the first blank forms three of the four side walls of the carton and the second blank defines the fourth side wall and end walls. Each blank is provided with connecting flaps outside of its three wall-forming panels, the connecting flaps of the first blank being secured to the outside of the side wall provided by the second blank, and those of the second blank being tucked into the open ends of the carton when such ends are closed by the end walls. The apparatus includes mechanisms for collating the articles into successive assemblies, delivering the assemblies and the respective blanks to a combining station, folding the blanks about the articles, and securing the connecting flaps to form a closed pack.

United States Patent Smith etal.

[151 3,654,745 [451 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORPACKING ARTICLES [72] lnventors: Michael John Smith; William CharlesLane, both of Maidstone, Kent, England [73] Assignee: Reed Paper GroupLimited, London, En-

gland [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 813,089

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 10, 1968 Great Britain..l7,372/68 [52] U.S. Cl ..53/26, 53/164, 53/383 [51] Int. Cl ..B65b35/50 [58] Field of Search ..53/3, 29, 26, 159, 183, 207-209,

3,500,609 3/1970 Gunyou ..53/l59X Primary Examiner- Theron E. CondonAssistant Examiner-E. F. Desmond Att0rney-Bacon & Thomas [5 7] ABSTRACTA method and apparatus for packing collated assemblies of elongatearticles of rectangular cross-section in tubular cartons, which involvesfolding first and second rectangular car.dboard blanks about theassembly so that the first blank forms three of the four side walls ofthe carton and the second blank defines the fourth side wall and endwalls. Each blank is provided with connecting flaps outside of its threewall-forming panels, the connecting flaps of the first blank beingsecured to the outside of the side wall provided by the second blank,and those of the second blank being tucked into the open ends of thecarton when such ends are closed by the end walls. The apparatusincludes mechanisms for collating the articles into successiveassemblies, delivering the assemblies and the respective blanks to acombining station, folding the blanks about the articles, and securingthe connecting flaps to form a closed pack.

21 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR H I972 3,654. 745

SHEET 02 0F 12 IN VEN TOPS Mlcunsz. Jbmv SMIrH WILL/AM Gun/2L5; Ln/vE ATTORNEYS P'ATENTEDAPR 11 I972 3,654,745

SHEET UBUF 12 INVENTOES MICHAEL Jb/m/ SMITH WILL/AM CHARLES LANE zfacwo/JM H T TURNEYS PATENTEUAPR 1 1 1972 SHEET 0'40! 12 PATENTEUAPR 1 1m2 3,654,745

sum 05 0F 12 INVENTORS MICHAEL J'omv 5mm WILLIAM Cuames LANE 6 Maw 19TTOPNE Y5 PATENTEBAPR 11 I972 SHEET UBUF 12 IN VE N TORS Z Mn L 5 M Z MwZ m H T TORNE Y5 PATENTEBAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET 07 0f 12 Hg. 54. W4

IN VE N TOPS MIC/MEL Jbmv SM/TH WILL/HM CHARLES LANE BY aim/W A rTOR/VEY5 PATENTEDAPR n 1912 SHEET 08 0F 12 BY mgQ/M H T TORNE Y5P'A'TE'N'TEDAPRHIQR 3.654.745

sum 080F12 INVENTORS MICHAEL Jomv SMIrH WILLIAM CHARLES LANE TORNE KSPATENTEDAPR 11 I972 3, 654. 745

sum 10 or 12 INVENTORS MICHAEL Jbmv SM/TH WILL/AM CHARLES LANE A TTOR/V5 Y5 FATENTEBAPR H I972 3.654, 745

MICHAEL JrBH/V 5mm! WILL/4M Cannes LANE H T TORNE Y5 METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES This invention relates to a method of andapparatus for packing an article or articles in a case or carton madefrom cardboard, corrugated board or similar light weight foldable sheetmaterial (hereinafter termed material of the kind referred to).

According to the invention there is provided a method of packing anarticle or an assembly of articles including folding first and secondblanks of material of the kind referred to about said article orassembly of articles so that the first blank defines three of the fourside walls of a tubular case or carton enclosing said article orassembly of articles and the second blank defines the fourth side walland end closure walls of such case or carton, and further includingfolding connecting flaps formed as extensions of the outer walls of saidthree walls defined by said first blank to overlie said fourth wall andsecuring said flaps to said fourth wall.

Preferably the method according to the invention will further includefolding connecting flaps formed as extensions of said end closure wallsinwardly of said tubular case or carton and securing said end wallconnecting flaps to the inside face of the center one of said three sidewalls defined by said first blank.

In a preferred method according to the invention the said article orassembly of articles is first engaged with said first and second blanksat a combining station, the said article or assembly of articles and thesaid first blank being fed to said combining station from opposite sidesthereof and the said second blank being fed to the said combiningstation from a third side thereof in a direction at right angles to therespective directions of feed of said article or assembly of articlesand said first blank, the combination of said article or assembly ofarticles and said blanks then being moved away from said combiningstation in the same direction as the direction of feed of said secondblank, the said folding of the blanks about the article or assembly ofarticles and the said folding and securing of the first blank connectingflaps being effected at said combining station and during the saidmovement of the combination away from the latter, and the inward foldingof the end closure walls and the said folding and securing of the secondblank connecting flaps being effected during a further movement of thecombination at right angles to the direction of its movement out of thecombining station.

Preferably the method includes the steps of engaging the said article orassembly of articles with the said first blank by depositing the articleor assembly of articles on the central one of the said three side wallsdefined by such blank, and thereafter folding the said two outer wallsthereof upwardly into positions to form the other two of said three sidewalls. The said second blank may then be laid on top of the said articleor assembly of articles subsequent to the depositing of the article orassembly of articles on the said first blank but before the upwardfolding of the said two outer walls of the first blank is completed.

The method may include the step of applying and securing cushioning padsto the inside faces of the said end closure walls before the said secondblank is engaged with the article or assembly of articles. Each of suchpads may conveniently be made of a plurality of superimposed panels ofcorrugated board or other resilient material.

When the method of the invention is applied to the packing of anassembly of similar articles it may include the step of collatingarticles delivered singly on conveyor means to form such an assembly ofarticles.

The invention finds particular utility in the packing of elongatearticles such as fluorescent light tubes which are awkward to pack byhand and in a preferred embodiment involves the collating of individualelongate articles, e.g. fluorescent tubes, into convenient assemblies orbundles and the formation of the case or carton about such assembly orbundle of articles. Fluorescent light tubes, each in a lightweightsquare-sectioned sleeve, can for example be collated in bundles of 25 ina rectangular array of five by five tubes and such bundle of tubesplaced upon a central side wall defining panel of the first blank at thecommencement of the packing operation.

Desirably the first and second blanks are precut and scored to definethe required fold lines.

The scope of the invention further extends to an article or an assemblyof articles which has been packed by the method set forth above.

The invention also extends to apparatus for automatically andrepetitively packing articles or assemblies of articles by the methodset forth above, such apparatus comprising a combining station, firstmeans for feeding first blanks of material of the kind referred to oneby one to said combining station,

second means for feeding articles or assemblies of articles to be packedone by one to said combining station for engagement one with each ofsaid first blanks at such station, third means for engaging a secondblank of material of the kind referred to with each successive articleor assembly of articles, fourth means for folding said first and secondblanks about each successive article or assembly of articles so that thefirst blank defines three of the four side walls of a tubular case orcarton enclosing said article or assembly of articles and the secondblank defines the fourth side wall and end closure walls of such case orcarton, and fifth means for folding connecting flaps formed asextensions of the outer walls of said three walls defined by said firstblank to overlie said fourth wall and for securing said flaps to saidfourth wall.

Preferably the apparatus includes sixth means for folding connectingflaps formed as extensions of said end closure walls inwardly of saidtubular case or carton and securing said end wall connecting flaps tothe inside face of the center one of said three side walls defined bysaid first blank.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus the said first means isoperative to transfer said first blanks one by one to said combiningstation from a first blank storage station of the apparatus.

Such first means may then include sucker means operative to withdrawsuccessive first blanks from the bottom of a stack at said first blankstorage station in operation, and kicker means operative to displaceeach successive blank so withdrawn into engagement with friction rollermeans operative to feed the blank to said combining station.

Preferably the said second means is operative to engage each successivearticle or assembly of articles with its associated first blank at saidcombining station by depositing said article or assembly of articles onthe central one of the said three side walls defined by the blank. Thesaid second means may then comprise carrier means mounted for driven upand down movement above said combining station, such carrier meanshaving an upper position of adjustment for receiving each successivearticle or assembly of articles to be packed and a lower position ofadjustment for depositing the same on its associated first blank.

In a preferred embodiment the said carrier means comprises at least twoshelves adapted to support each successive article or assembly ofarticles by engagement under spaced edge re gions thereof, and includingmeans operative to withdraw said shelves from under the article orassembly of articles when the carrier means is in its said lowerposition of adjustment so as to deposit the article or assembly ofarticles on its associated first blank.

When, as is preferred, the apparatus of the invention is adapted forpacking assemblies of articles the apparatus may include collating meansarranged to receive articles fed singly thereto and to collate saidarticles into successive assemblies for packing, and assembly transfermeans for transferring successive assemblies of articles to said secondmeans. ln a preferred embodiment said collating means comprisesstationary support means adapted to receive successive single articlesfed thereto whereby successive sub-assemblies of articles are built upon said stationary support means in operation, movable support meanscomprising a plurality of supports alignable in succession with saidstationary support means for the transfer of successive sub-assembliesof articles from said stationary support means to successive ones ofsaid movable supports so as to build up a plurality of sub-assemblylayers of articles on said movable support means to constitute anassembly of articles, sub-assembly transfer means operative to transfereach successive sub-assembly of articles assembled on said stationarysupport means to a movable support aligned therewith, and indexing meansoperative to index said movable support means through one increment ofits movement subsequent to the transfer of each successive sub-assemblyof articles to one of the movable supports thereof, the said assemblytransfer means being operative to transfer each successive assembly ofarticles assembled on said movable support means to said second means.

Preferably the movable supports of said movable support means aremounted for indexing movement around endless paths.

In a preferred arrangement the said stationary support means comprisestwo shelves arranged to support each successive article by engagementunder spaced edge regions thereof, and each of said movable supportscomprises two shelves arranged to support a sub-assembly of articles byengagement under spaced edge regions of the articles. The saidsub-assembly transfer means then preferably comprises pusher meansmounted for movement between the shelves of said stationary supportmeans, and said assembly transfer means comprises pusher means movablebetween the shelves of said movable supports.

In a preferred form of the apparatus the said third means is operativeto lay said second blank on each successive article or assembly ofarticles whilst the latter is at said combining station. When thearrangement is such that each successive article or assembly of articlesis deposited on its associated first blank at the combining station, asaforesaid, it is preferred that said third means should be operative tolay said second blank on each successive article or assembly of articlessubsequent to the depositing of the latter on the associated firstblank.

In a preferred embodiment the said third means is operative to transfersaid second blanks one by one to said combining station from a secondblank storage station of the apparatus. Such third means may theninclude pusher means operative to displace successive second blanks fromthe bottom of a stack at said second blank storage station on toconveyor means in operation, said conveyor means being intermittentlyoperative to carry each successive blank so displaced into saidcombining station.

In a preferred form of the invention the apparatus includes meansoperative to apply and secure a cushioning pad to the inside face ofeach end closure wall of each of said second blanks before itsengagement with an associated article or assembly of articles. The saidcushioning pad applying and securing means may then include pusher meansoperative to displace successive pairs of cushioning pads from thebottoms of two stacks of such pads on to said second blank conveyormeans in operation, the drives to said pad pusher means and said secondblank pusher means being linked so that each successive blank is laid ona pair of pads already laid on said conveyor means, adhesive applyingmeans operative to apply adhesive to the upper face of each pad beforethe associated blank is laid thereon, and pressing means operative topress the end closure walls of each successive blank down on itsassociated pads to bond the same together before the blank is fed to thecombining station.

Preferably the said fourth means is situated at said combining stationand comprises respective folding elements mounted for driven up and downpivotal movement one on each side of the position to be occupied by thecentral one of the said three side walls of each successive first blankat said station, so as when driven upwardly to be operative to fold upthe outer ones of the three side walls of each successive blank aboutthe opposite sides of an associated article or assembly of articles. Inthese circumstances, when the said third means is operative to lay thesaid second blank on each successive article or assembly of articlessubsequent to the depositing of the latter on its associated firstblank, means are preferably provided which operate automatically tointerrupt the upward movement of said folding elements whilst the saidsecond blank is being laid on each successive article or assembly ofarticles.

The said fifth means may conveniently include stationarily mountedfolding means at a connecting flap folding station situated adjacentsaid combining station, and conveyor means operative to carry eachsuccessive combination of an article or assembly of articles and its twoassociated blanks through said folding station. One part of saidconveyor means may then be arranged to support each successive firstblank whilst it is at said combining station.

In a preferred embodiment the said fifth means further includes adhesiveapplying means arranged between said combining station and saidconnecting flap folding station and operative to apply adhesive to thefaces of the said connecting flaps of each successive first blank beforeit enters such folding station, and the folding means at said foldingstation comprises two series of rollers operative to fold the respectiveconnecting flaps of each successive first blank inwardly on to the sidewall formed by the associated second blank as each said successivecombination is carried through said folding station. The said fifthmeans may then additionally include a compressing station situatedimmediately downstream of said connecting flap folding station, the saidconveyor means being arranged to carry each said successive combinationthrough such compression station, and the mechanism at said compressionstation being operative to press the respective connecting flaps of thefirst blank of each successive combination down on to the said fourthwall formed by the associated second blank whilst the said combinationis moving through said compression station.

When the said fifth means is arranged in the above-mentioned preferredmanner, the said sixth means may conveniently include stationarilymounted folding means at a final folding station situated adjacent thedownstream end of said conveyor means, and further conveyor meansextending at right angles to the first-mentioned conveyor means andarranged to receive each said successive combination from saidfirst-mentioned conveyor and to carry the same through said finalfolding station.

Preferably the said folding means at said final folding stationcomprises curved folding bars arranged at each side of said furtherconveyor means.

The said sixth means may further include adhesive applying meansoperative to apply adhesive to the respective connecting flaps of thesecond blank of each said successive combination before the engagementof said flaps with the said center one of the three side walls definedby the associated first blank.

It is preferred that the packing apparatus according to the invention bedesigned to operate with precut and scored first and second blanks; ifdesired, however, the apparatus could include means for cutting andscoring the blanks.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood oneembodiment of a method and apparatus in accordance with the inventionwill now be described by way of example and with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the successive steps involved in apreferred packing method according to the invention as embodied in thepreferred apparatus to be described;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are successive parts of a plan view of the wholeapparatus, the Figures being intended to be read from left to right inthe order mentioned and being broken at the chain-dotted lines;

2 FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line IIIIII of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section on the line IVIV of FIG. 28;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are the two parts of a vertical cross-section on theline VA--VA, VBVB of FIG. 28, these two Figures being intended to beread from left to right in the order mentioned and being divided at thechain-dotted line;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-section on the line VIVI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-section on the line VIIVII of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-section on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 2C; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-section on the line IX-IX of FIG. 2C.

The method and apparatus to be described are particularly adapted forthe packing of sleeved fluorescent light tubes in assemblies of 25 tubesarranged in five layers of five tubes each.

Referring first to FIG. 1 for a general indication of the nature of themethod and apparatus to be described, this preferred applicationutilises precut and scored first and second blanks of corrugated board,namely a case body blank and a case lid blank. The case body blank 1, ofwhich a stack is shown at 3, is of rectangular shape divided by foldlines parallel to its length into three side wall forming panels, namelya centre panel 4 of substantially the same width as the case lid andblank and outer panels 5 and 6 hingedly connected one to each side ofthe centre panel and of substantially the same width as the centrepanel, and two outermost flaps 7 and 8 hingedly connected to the outerside wall forming panels 5 and 6, which flaps 7 and 8 serve asconnecting flaps. It will be understood that the three panels 4 to 6will define three side walls of the formed tubular case. The second orcase lid blank 2, of which a stack is shown at 9, is of rectangularshape and of a width equal to the width of one of said side wall formingpanels of the case body blank 1. It is divided by fold lines extendingtransversely to its length into five panels, namely a center panel 10constituting a lid or fourth wall of the assembled tubular case, twoouter end closure wall forming panels 11 and 12 and two outermostconnecting flaps 13 and 14. Preformed end cushioning pads 15, of whichtwo stacks are shown at 16 and 17, are also utilised, each comprisesseveral panels of corrugated board stuck together and is of asize inplan slightly smaller than the end closure panels 11 and 12 of the caselid blank 2.

Sleeved fluorescent tubes 18 are fed to collating means in the apparatusand are formed into assemblies of 25 in a five by five array as shown at19. The subsequent sequence of events is as follows; a case body blank 1is drawn from the bottom of the stack 8 by suitable with-drawing meansand fed to a combining station (generally indicated at 20) at which anassembly 19 of 25 sleeved tubes is placed on the center panel 4 of thecase body blank 1, the width of the panel 4 corresponding to the widthof the tube assembly 19 and the length thereof being slightly greaterthan the length of the tube assembly to accommodate within the tubularbody of the formed case the aforementioned cushioning pads 15. Duringthis time a case lid blank 2 is withdrawn from the bottom of the stack9, likewise two end cushioning pads are withdrawn one from each of thetwo stacks l6 and 17 and applied and secured by adhesive to the endclosure panels 11 and 12 of the case lid blank 2 respectively.

The case lid blank 2 with the end pads secured thereto is then fed intothe combining station 20 so as to be laid on the tube assembly 19 withthe end pads facing downwardly. The two outer side wall forming panels 5and 6 of the case body blank 1 having been folded upwardly about thetube assembly, the connecting flaps 7 and 8 forming the lateralextremities of the case body blank are folded inwardly to overlie thecase lid blank as the combination of the tube assembly and blanks ismoved out of the combining station 20, and are adhesively secured to thetop wall forming panel 10 of the case lid blank 2, compression beingapplied to ensure a good adhesive bond. The end closure panels 11 and 12are then folded inwards during a further movement of the combination(indicated by arrows A) at right angles to its movement out of thecombining station, and the connecting flaps 13 and 14 of the lid blank 2are tucked into and adhesively secured to the tubular body, therebysecuring the end closure walls 11 and 12 in their closed positions andthus completing the packing.

The construction and operation of the apparatus according to theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 9 will now be described. Theapparatus is of unitary construction and its various elements aresupported by a rigid framework whose members are indicated throughoutthe drawings by the reference letter F.

Referring first to the part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2A and 3,this structure constitutes the third means" previously referred to, i.e.the means for engaging each successive second or lid blank 2 with eachsuccessive assembly of sleeved fluorescent light tubes to be packed.

Three sub-frames are mounted on the main framework F in this part of theapparatus, comprising an elongate sub-frame 21 arranged to receive andsupport a stack 9 of second or lid blanks 2 already referred to inconnection with FIG. I, and two further and similar sub-frames 22 and 23dimensioned and arranged to receive the stacks 16 and 17 of cushioningpads 15- also referred to above. Each of the said sub-frames hasvertical guide members 24 mounted therein which specifically define thespaces for the lid blanks and pads.

This part of the apparatus further includes conveyor means formed by twoendless belts 25, for feeding successive lid blanks 2 to the combiningstation 20. The belts 25 are toothed belts (as are all of the furtherdriving and conveyor belts mentioned hereinafter) and are mountedbetween pairs of toothed wheels 26 and 27 at the respective ends of thispart of the apparatus. The toothed wheels 26 are mounted on a horizontalshaft 28 which is arranged to be driven intermittently by a motor 29 soas to drive the belts.

The lid blanks 2 and cushioning pads 15 are, during operation, fed fromthe bottoms of their respective stacks by means now to be described.Such means comprises a motor 30 which drives a shaft 31 extending thewhole length of this part of the apparatus, via a gearbox 32 and a beltdrive 33. Respective crank arms 34 (only one of which is visible in thedrawings, in FIG. 3) are keyed to the ends of the shaft 31 so as torotate therewith. Each crank arm 34 has a pair of connecting rods 35 and36 rotatably connected thereto. The other end of each of the connectingrods 35 is rotatably connected to a lever 37 whose lower end is pivotedto the framework F via a link 38 and whose upper end is pivotallyconnected to a carriage 39 mounted for sliding movement on' shafts 40extending transversely of the apparatus beneath the associatedsub-frames 22 and 23 respectively. Each carriage 39 carries a pusher 41which is aligned to be engageable with the edge of the bottom one of theassociated stack of cushioning pads 15 housed in the sub-frame 22 or 23.

The other connecting rod 36 at each end of this part of the apparatus ispivotally connected to a lever 42. The lower ends of the levers 42 are43 connected to the main framework F via links 43 whilst their upperends are pivotally connected to respective carriages 44 slidably mountedon shafts 45 extending transversely of the apparatus beneath therespective end regions of the sub-frame 21. The carriages 44 carrypushers 46 which are aligned to be engagable with the edge of thelowermost lid blank 2 in the stack 9.

It will be seen that rotation of the shaft 31 in operation causesmovement of the carriages 39 and 44 along their mounting shafts 40 and45 in such manner that when the carriages 39 are moving inwardly thecarriages 44 will be moving outwardly, and vice versa. Thus, inoperation, when the levers 37 and 42 are moved to the right as seen inFIG. 3, a pair of cushioning pads 15 will be displaced from the bottomsof the respective stacks 16 and 17 onto the conveyor belts 25, which arestationary at this time. At the same time the carriages 44 will be movedaway from under the stack of lid blanks 2, allowing the stack to drop bythe thickness of one blank so that the bottom blank becomes aligned withthe plane of movement of the pushers 46 on the carriages 44. Subsequentmovement of the levers 37 and 42 to the left as seen in FIG. 3 willcause the lowermost lid blank 2 to be displaced onto the conveyor beltsso that its end closure panels 11 and 12 overlie the pads 15 on theconveyor, whilst the carriages 39 are moved away from under the stacksof cushioning pads so as to allow such stacks to drop downwardly by thethickness of one pad ready for the next cycle of operation.

This part of the apparatus further includes means for applying adhesiveto each successive pair of cushioning pads 15 before the lid blank islaid on them, and for applying pressure to the bond between the pads andlid blank after they have been engaged together. Thus a pair of glueapplicators 47 is provided at each end of this part of the apparatus,each of such applicators being of a conventional nature and beingmounted for up and down movement to apply spots of adhesive to oppositeedge regions of each cushioning pad between the time at which it is laidon the conveyor 25 and the time at which the associated lid blank islaid on it. A pressure pad 48 operated by an air cylinder 49 is mountedbetween each pair of adhesive applicators 47 and is automaticallyoperated to apply pressure to the end closure panels 11 and 12 of eachsuccessive lid blank after it has been laid on the glued cushioningpads.

Each of the conveyor belts 25 is provided with a pair of diametricallyopposite upstanding abutment members 50, such members being aligned inpairs as shown at the left hand end of FIG. 2A so as to be engageablebehind the upstream end of each successive lid blank 2 when it is readyto be fed to the combining station.

The operation of the part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2A and 3 isthus as follows. The conveyor belts 25 being stationary, a pair ofcushioning pads 15 are fed onto the belts in the manner alreadydescribed. Before a lid blank is laid on the cushioning pads the glueapplicators 47 are automatically operated to apply spots of adhesive tothe pads. A lid blank 2 is then fed inwardly so as to be laid on thepads. The pressure pads 48 are then operated to form a good adhesivebond. The conveyor belts 25 are now started and the lid blank is fedinto the combining station 20. Microswitches (not shown) are arranged tosense the presence of each successive combination of a lid blank andcushioning pads and to transmit an appropriate signal to stop theapparatus should any hold-up occur in the continued assembly of suchcombinations in this part of the apparatus.

The means for successively feeding first or body blanks l to thecombining station 20 will now be described with particular reference toFIGS. 2B and 58. Such means is the first means already referred toherein.

This part of the apparatus includes a sub-frame 51 mounted on the mainframework F and dimensioned to receive a stack 3 of body blanks Ireferred to earlier in connection with FIG. 1. The sub-frame 51 has sixvertical guide plates 52 mounted therein so as specifically to definethe space for the reception of the stack of body blanks, and each ofsuch guide plates is turned inwardly at its lower end to support thestack.

Two suction cups 53 are mounted below the sub-frame 51 for vertical upand down movement, each suction cup being pivotally mounted on a lever54 whose other end is pivotally connected to a part of the mainframework F. Power for driving the suction cups and up and down is takenfrom a motor 55 via a clutch 56 and gearbox 57, chain drive 58 and crankarms 59 connected to the levers 54. The upper position of the suctioncups is illustrated in ghost lines in FIG. B.

The first step in the delivery of a body blank from the stack 3 to thecombining station 20 is thus the upward movement of the suction cups 53to engage the lowest blank of the stack and draw it down over theintumed ends of the plates 52 to the position shown in ghost lines inFIG. 5B.

A kicker mechanism is provided for starting each successive body blankon its travel into the combining station 20. The kicker mechanismcomprises a pair of kickers 60 mounted on respective levers 61 pivotallymounted on the main frame. A motor 62 drives the kickers via a gearbox63, chain drive 64 and crank arms 65 connected to the levers 61, so thatthe kickers 60 are drivable between the retracted positions shown infull lines in FIG. 5B for the reception of a body blank 1 withdrawn fromthe stack, and the forward positions shown in ghost lines in thatFigure. The kicker mechanism is thus operative to engage the upstreamedge of each successive body blank and, upon actuation, to move theblank to the left as seen in FIG. 5B. The leading edge of the blank thenengages in a nip formed between a pair of rollers 66 and associatedspring strips 67. The rollers 66 are driven in rotation to feed theblank the remaining distance into the combining station 20. Drive to therollers 66 is from a motor 68 via suitable transmission means generallyindicated at 69 in FIG. 2B. In operation of this part of the apparatusthe forward movement of the kickers 60 is initiated automatically by thedownward movement of the suction cups 53.

The parts of the apparatus concerned with collating a succession ofsleeved fluorescent light tubes into successive assemblies of 25 tubesfor packing will now be described with reference to FIGS. 28, 4, 5A and6.

The collating mechanism of the apparatus is arranged to receive thefluorescent light tubes singly from an endless conveyor 70, of whichonly the downstream end portion is shown at the left hand side of FIG.5A and the top of FIG. 2B, which conveyor leads the tubes from aprevious packing step where they have already been inserted in squaresection protective sleeves.

The first part of the collating mechanism, which receives the tubes asthey arrive in the apparatus, comprises stationary support means in theform of a pair of horizontal open sided shelves 71 (see FIGS. 23 and 5A)arranged to support the sleeved tubes at opposite ends thereof. Arrangedabove the shelves (see FIG. 5A) is a mechanism for transferringsuccessive sub-assemblies of five tubes out of the shelves 71 and intothe next part of the collating mechanism. The sub-assembly transfermechanism comprises a pair of carriages 72 carrying pusher members 73and mounted on respective pairs of chain drives 74 above and somewhatinwardly of the respective shelves 71. Each of the carriages 72 isdriven in a closed path by its mounting chains 73 so that when eachpusher carriage is moving along the top run of its path its pushermember 73 is raised above the level of the shelves 71 as shown in FIG.5A. Movement of the pusher carriage 72 to the left as seen in FIG. 5Aand around the rear extremity of its path of movement will bring itspusher member 73 down into the plane of the shelves 71 and thenforwardly along the lower run of its path to push a sub-assembly of fivetubes out of the shelves 71 and into the next part of the collatingmechanism.

As the tubes are delivered into the shelves 71 they pile up in a singlerow and are pushed along the shelves by further tubes arriving thereonuntil the most forward tube operates a microswitch (not shown) toactuate the sub-assembly pusher mechanism.

The next part of the collating mechanism, after the pair of shelves 71,comprises movable support means arranged to receive successivesub-assemblies of five tubes from the shelves 71 and thus to make upsuccessive assemblies of 25 tubes consisting of five layers of fivetubes each.

The said movable support means comprises two sets of shelves 75 (seeFIGS. 28, 5A and 6) mounted on respective sides of the path of the tubesas they exit from the shelves 71 and aligned with one another across thepath of the tubes so that an aligned pair of shelves 75 (one from eachset) can receive a sub-assembly of five tubes from the shelves 71 whenthe sub-assembly is pushed out of the latter shelves by the pushermembers 73.

Each set of shelves 75 is mounted on a pair of chains 76 (see FIG. 6)for movement around a closed path. Such path has an inner vertical runalong which the shelves move in the downward direction and it is at thetop of this part of their path of movement that the pairs of shelves 75successively become aligned with the fixed shelves 71. Indexing meansare provided for intermittently moving the sets of shelves 75 throughone increment of their movement around their closed paths when one pairof shelves (one from each set) has received a sub-assembly of five tubesfrom the shelves 71. Such indexing means comprises a disc 77 (see FIG.4) carrying a plurality of cam followers 78 which are acted upon byrotary cam means 79 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) mounted on a shaft 80 which isconnected to the drive for the sub-assembly pushers 73. Thus, referringto FIG. 4, the drive to these mechanisms is from a motor 81 via agearbox 82 and thence via a belt drive 83 to a shaft 84 from which driveis transmitted to the sub-assembly pushers 73 and, via a toothed wheel85, to the shaft 80 mentioned above.

As previously mentioned, the operation of the sub-assembly transfermeans is controlled by a microswitch actuated by the presence of fivetubes in the shelves 71. Upon such actuation, the pusher members 73 movealong the lower run of their path of movement to push five tubes into analigned pair of shelves 75, and during this part of the movement a planeportion of the rotary cam means 79 slides past one of the cam followers78. Thereafter, as the pushers 73 moves rearwardly along the upper runof their movement towards their rest position ready for the nextoperation, the curved surfaces of the cam means 79 move past the camfollower 78 to rotate the disc 77 and thus to index the sets of shelves75 downwardly through one increment so as to align the next pair ofshelves with the shelves 71.

The next part of the apparatus, for delivering the tube assemblies tothe combining station 20, comprises carrier means in the form of twosets of shelves 86 (see FIGS. A and 7) which constitute the second meanspreviously referred to. Each set of shelves 86 comprises five shelvesmounted on'a carriage 87 (see also FIG. 4) which is movable up and downon a pair of shafts 88, between an upper position (see FIGS. 5A and 7)in which each set of five shelves 86 is aligned with five of the shelves75, and a lower position) shown in ghost lines in FIG. 4) in which anassembly of 25 tubes to be received on the shelves 86 is aligned to bedeposited on the central wall panel 4 of a body blank 1 at the combiningstation 20. The shelves 86 are arranged to receive five sub-assemblylayers of tubes, supporting the tubes at their ends in the same manneras they are supported by the movable shelves 75.

When five sub-assembly layers of tubes have been received in fiveadjacent pairs of shelves 86 of the movable support means the lowestlayer of shelves will have been moved downwardly far enough to engage ahorizontal arm 89 and thereby to operate a microswitch 90 which actuatesassembly transfer means for transferring an assembly of 25 tubes fromthe movable support means into the carrier shelves 86.

The assembly transfer means comprises a pair of pushers 91 (see FIGS. 28and 5A) slidable on shafts 92 between the sets of movable shelves 75.The pushers 91 are driven from a motor 93 via gearbox 94, chain drive 95and pivotally mounted levers 96 connected to the pushers by connectingrods 97.

Once each assembly of 25 tubes have been pushed from the shelves 75 tothe shelves 86 the resulting release of the arm 89 and return actuationof the microswitch 90 initiates the downward movement of the carriershelves 86. The carriages 87 for these shelves are driven up and downfrom respective motors 98 and 99 (FIG. 4) via a gearbox 100 and beltdrive 101 to a shaft 102 carrying pinions 103 which engage respectiveracks 104 connected to the carriages 87.

It will be appreciated that, once an assembly of 25 tubes has beenlowered to the combining station by the sets of carrier shelves 86, itis necessary for these shelves to be retracted from under the ends ofthe tubes so as to deposit them on the central wall panel 4 of a bodyblank 1. The mechanism for retracting one set of shelves (the otherbeing similar) is shown in FIG. 7 and comprises a cruciform mechanism105 interconnecting a fixed part 106 and movable part 107 of thecarriage 87 so that contraction of the cruciform mechanism withdraws theset of shelves 86 to the left as seen in FIG. 7, thus releasing thetubes and depositing them on a body blank. The sets of carrier shelves86 have normal rest positions in which they are extended for engagementwith the layers of tubes, being urged outwardly into such restpositions'by compression springs 108. Withdrawal of the shelves to theirtube-releasing positions is effected by pneumatic cylinders 109 whosepiston rods 110 are connected to the respective movable elements 107 ofthe carriages 87 (see FIG. 7).

The upward movement of the sets of carrier shelves 86, once an assemblyof 25 tubes has been deposited on an as sociated body blank, isinitiated by the withdrawal movement of the shelves. Initiation of thewithdrawal of the shelves is brought about by a further mechanism to bementioned below.

Referring now to the mechanism at the combining station 20, withreference to FIGS. 28, 5A and 5B, this includes conveyor meanscomprising a pair of endless belts 111 extending wholly across thecombining station as seen in FIG. 2B and providing underneath supportfor each successive combination of an assembly of 25 tubes and theirassociated body and lid blanks whilst the walls 5 and 6 of the bodyblank are being folded about the tube assembly.

The first step in each cycle of operation at the combining stationconsists of the delivery of a body blank 1 to the station from the bodyblank feeding means already described. Each blank, having been fedthrough the nip between rollers 66 and spring strips 67 alreadymentioned, is arrested by a stop 112 (FIG. 5A) which is linked to amicroswitch to detect the presence of a body blank at the combiningstation and to transmit an appropriate signal to the drive for thecarrier shelves 86, which will not be lowered unless a body blank ispresent.

A microswitch 113 mounted alongside the path of movement of one of thecarrier shelf carriages 87 is operated when the carriages reach theirlower position and the operation of this microswitch initiates theupward folding of the two outer walls 5 and 6 of the body blank. Itshould be noted that the assembly of 25 tubes has not yet been depositedon the central wall 4 of the body blank, the shelves 86 not yet havingbeen retracted.

The mechanism for folding up the side walls 5 and 6 of each body blankmay be seen in FIGS. 2B, 5A and 5B and comprises a pair of similarfolding elements 114 each formed by a metal bar mounted on a pair oflevers 115 pivotally mounted on the main frame F via brackets 116. Thefolding elements 114 are driven from a motor 117 via a gearbox 118 and achain drive 119 which drives two shafts 120 and 121 each carrying crankarms 122 and connecting rods 123 connected to the respective foldingelements via their mounting levers 115. It will be understood that thearrangement of the drive results in the folding elements 114 both beingpivoted upwardly and downwardly together.

In operation the upward pivotal movement of the folding elements, havingbeen initiated by the arrival of the carrier carriages 87 at their lowerpositions as previously mentioned,

continues until the outer walls 5 and 6 of the body blank have beenfolded upwardly through nearly At this point however, there is a dwellin the movement of the folding members to enable the carrier shelves 86to be retracted so as to deposit the assembly of 25 tubes on the centralwall 4 of the blank, and for such shelves to be raised, and also toenable a lid blank 2 to be fed into the combining station. The drive tothe folding members is stopped by a suitably placed microswitch (notshown) and the operation of this switch initiates the retractingmovement of the carrier shelves 86 to deposit the assembly of 25 tubeson the body blank, and the subsequent raising of such shelves. Operationof this microswitch also initiates the feed of the next body blank tothe combining station, by starting the upward movement of the suctioncups 53. Just before the carrier shelves 86 reach their upper positionstheir movement operates a microswitch 124 which initiates the feed of alid blank 2 into the combining station, i.e. actuates the conveyor belts25 on which the lid blank is resting. The lid blank 2 is fed into thecombining station between the shafts 88 mounting the carrier shelfcarriages 87 and comes to rest on the top of the assembly of 25 tubes,its movement being stopped partly be cessation of the movement of thebelts 25 and partly by an arm 125 (see FIG. A) which, when engaged bythe-leading edge of the lid blank, operates a microswitch to start thedrive to the folding elements 114 once again. Such elements now completetheir movement so as to bring the outer walls 5 and 6 of the body blankinto vertical positions and the sequence of operations at the combiningstation has now been completed.

The operation of the microswitch associated with the arm 125 by theleading end of the lid blank 2 also initiates the movement of theconveyor belts 111 which now carry the combination of the tube assemblyand its two associated blanks (now referred to as the combination) outof the combining station.

The said combination now passes to a connecting flap folding station,generally indicated at 126 in FIGS. 2B, 2C and 8 and folding part of thefifth means mentioned earlier, where mechanism is provided to fold theconnecting flaps 7 and 8 .of each body blank 1 down into engagement withthe top surface of the lid blank 2. First, however, adhesive must beapplied to the inside faces of such connecting flaps and this iseffected by adhesive applicators 127 (see FIGS. 2B and 5A) mounted atthe entrance to the folding station 126.

The mechanism at the connecting flap folding station comprises foldingmeans in the form of two series of rollers 128, one series on each sideof the path of travel of the combination, which rollers are arranged toengage the connecting flaps 7 and 8 of the body blank and have theiraxes inclined at increasing angles to the vertical so as to fold theconnecting flaps inwardly as the combination passes through the foldingstation. The movement of the combination through the folding station 126is brought about firstly by the conveyor belts 111 which initiate themovement of the combination out of the combining station and also, oncethe leading end of the combination has passed the folding station 126,by driven compressing means at a compressing station now to bedescribed.

Referring now to FIGS. 2C and 8, the compressing means comprises a pairof conveyor belts 129 mounted on wheels 130 and driven by a belt 131from the downstream end of the conveyor belts 111 at the combiningstation. The lower runs of the conveyor belts 129 are pressed down ontothe upper surfaces of the connecting flaps 7 and 8 of the body blank byidler rollers 132, and a further series of idler rollers 133 (with theiraxes vertical) is provided on each side of the path of movement of thecombination to engage the upper portions of the side walls 5 and 6 ofthe combination to define its path of movement through the compressionstation.

In its movement through the compression station, each successivecombination rides on a roller conveyor whose rollers 134 (FIG. 8) aremounted in a frame 135 which frame is mounted for up and down verticalmovement for a purpose now to be described.

When the leading end of the combination reaches the downstream end ofthe compression station, at the left-hand end of FIG. 8, it operates amicroswitch to stop the drive to the compressing conveyor belts 129, sothat the combination, which is now a pack and will be referred to assuch, is now resting stationarily on the roller conveyors 134.

The roller conveyor frame 135 is mounted on crank arms 136 connected viaa chain drive 137 to a gearbox 138 driven by a motor 139. The actuationof the drive to the crank arms 136 to lower the roller conveyor 134 isinitiated by the retraction of the carrier shelves 86 to deposit thenext succeeding assembly of 25 tubes on a body blank in the combiningstation 20. Such lowering of the roller conveyor 134 deposits the packon two further conveyor belts 140 arranged at right angles to the rollerconveyor, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, which belts serve to carry the packthrough a final folding station illustrated in FIGS. 2C and 9; suchfinal folding station incorporates mechanism constituting the said sixthmeans" already referred to. The drive to the crank arms 136 is stoppedby operation of a microswitch when the roller conveyor frame 135 reachesits lowest position and operation of this switch also initiates themovement of the two conveyor belts 140.

The latter belts are driven from a motor 141 (FIG. 9) via a gearbox 142and a chain drive 143 which also drives three upper belts 144 at thefinal folding station through which the pack is now moved in a directionat right angles to its previous path of travel.

The mechanism at the final folding station is illustrated in FIGS. 2Cand 9 and is arranged to fold the end closure panels 11 and 12 and theirassociated connecting flaps 13 and 14 of the lid blank 2 downwardly andinwardly to close the ends of the pack. As mentioned above, the pack istransported through the final folding station on conveyor belts andduring its travel is held down on those belts by the upper belts 144also mentioned above.

The folding mechanism at the second folding station consists firstly ofa pair of strips 145 arranged one on each side of the path of travel ofthe pack and curved downwardly at their upstream ends, the purpose ofwhich is to lift the end wall panels 11 and 12 into horizontal positionsif they have dropped out of the horizontal during the movement of thecombination through the previous parts of the apparatus.

The extremities of the end wall panels, carrying the connecting flaps l3and 14, are now led into engagement with twisted angle bars 146 whichact to fold the connecting flaps downwardly through 90 relative to thehorizontally aligned end wall panels 11 and 12.

Control of the folding of the end wall panels is now taken over by afurther pair of twisted and curved angle bars 147 which receive theextremity of each end wall panel and its associated connecting flaptherein and, during the further movement of the pack along the conveyors140, fold the end wall panels downwardly until they are nearlyvertically aligned when they reach the downstream ends of the anglebars, which point is indicated at 148 in FIGS. 2C and 9.

At this point adhesive is applied to the underneath (i.e. outer)surfaces of the connecting flaps l3 and 14 by adhesive applicators 149(FIG. 9). The final inward folding of the end wall panels 11 and 12 isnow taken over by bars 150 on the respective sides of the path ofmovement of the pack. Each of these bars is joggled at 151 so as to pushthe respective end wall panels into the open ends of the pack as theypass the joggle; the bars 150 are then continued for some distance so asto hold the end wall panels in and allow an adhesive bond to form duringthe last portion of the travel of the pack.

The pack has now been fully formed and secured and is delivered onto ahorizontal platform 152 formed at the downstream end of the part of theapparatus illustrated in FIG. 2C.

The conveyor belts 140 at the final folding station (as well as thebelts 111 at the combining station) will be furnished with upstandingabutment members similar to the members 50 on the belts 25.

The means for the interrelation of the movements of the various parts ofthe apparatus to achieve continued and repetitive packing of theassemblies of tubes has been described only briefly above. However, themanner of initiation and termination of the various steps and theirinterconnection with other operations in the apparatus will be clear tothose skilled in the construction of packaging machinery without furtherexplanation. Clearly there are many alternative ways in which theinitiation and termination of the various operations may be controlledby way of microswitches or other sensing devices operated by movement ofthe various elements of the apparatus.

Each of the gearboxes of the illustrated apparatus will have anassociated clutch-brake mechanism for starting and stopping the drivetransmission.

The above described apparatus is, of course, arranged to operate onprecut and scored blanks. It will be appreciated, however, that theapparatus could if desired include means for cutting and scoring theblanks to define the various panels therein.

We claim:

1. A method of packing an article or an assembly of articles, includingthe steps of folding first and second blanks of foldable sheet materialabout said articles or assembly of articles so that the first blankprovides three of the four side walls of a tubular case or cartonenclosing said article or assembly of articles and the second blankprovides the fourth side wall and end closure walls of such case orcarton, and further including the step of folding connecting flaps,formed as extensions of the outer walls of said three walls provided bysaid first blank, to overlie the said fourth wall, and securing saidflaps to said fourth wall; characterized in that the said article orassembly of articles is first engaged with said first and second blanksat a combining station, the said article or assembly of articles and thesaid first blank being fed to said combining station from differentsides thereof and the said second blank being fed to the said combiningstation from a third side thereof in a direction at right angles to therespective directions of feed of said article or assembly of articlesand said first blank, the combination of said article or assembly ofarticles and said blanks then being moved away from said combiningstation in the same direction as the direction of feed of said secondblank, the said folding of the blanks about the article or assembly ofarticles and the said folding and securing of the said connecting flapsbeing effected at said combining station and during the said movement ofthe combination away from the latter, and the inward folding of the endclosure walls being effected during a further movement of thecombination at right angles to the direction of its movement out of thecombining station.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a foldingconnecting flaps, formed as extensions of said end closure wallsprovided by said second blank, inwardly of said tubular case or cartonand securing said end wall connecting flaps to the inside of the centerone of said three side walls provided by said first blank, said foldingand securing of said connecting flaps being effected during said furthermovement of the combination at right angles to the direction of itsmovement out of the combining station.

3. Apparatus for automatically and repetitively packing articles orassemblies of articles, such apparatus comprising: means defining acombining station; first means for feeding first blanks of foldablesheet material one by one to said combining station; second means forfeeding articles or assemblies of articles to be packed one by one tosaid combining station for engagement one with each of said blanks atsuch station; third means for engaging a second blank of foldable sheetmaterial with each successive article or assembly of articles at saidcombining station; fourth means for folding said first blanks about eachsuccessive article or assembly of articles at said combining station sothat each said first blank provides three of the four side walls of atubular case or carton enclosing said article or assembly of articlesand the second blank provides the fourth side wall thereof; fifth meansdisplaced from said combining station for folding connecting flaps,formed as extensions of the outer walls of said three walls provided bysaid first blank, to overlie said fourth wall and for securing saidflaps to said fourth wall; and sixth means displaced from said combiningstation for folding parts of said second blank inwardly to form endclosure walls of said case or carton.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sixth means is alsooperative to fold connecting flaps formed as extensions of said endclosure walls inwardly of the tubular case or carton and to secure saidend wall connecting flaps to the inside face of the center one of saidthree side walls provided by said first blank.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, when applied to the packing of anassembly of similar articles, including the step of collating articlesdelivered singly on conveyor means to form such an assembly of articles.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first means isoperative to transfer said first blanks one by one to said combiningstation from a first blank storage station of the apparatus, said firstmeans including sucker means operative to withdraw successive firstblanks from the bottom of a stack at said first blank storage station,and kicker means operative to displace each successive blank sowithdrawn into engagement with friction roller means operative to feedthe blank to said combining station.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second means isoperative to engage each successive article or assembly of articles withits associated first blank at said combining station by depositing saidarticle or assembly or articles on the central one of the said threeside walls defined by the blank, said second means comprising carriermeans mounted for up and down movement above said combining station,such carrier means having an upper position of adjustment for receivingeach successive article or assembly of articles to be packed and a lowerposition of adjustment for depositing the same on its associated firstblank.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said carrier means comprisesat least two shelves adapted to support each successive article orassembly of articles by engagement under spaced edge regions thereof,and including means operative to withdraw said shelves from under thearticle or assembly of articles when the carrier means is in its saidlower position of adjustment so as to deposit the article or assembly ofarticles on its associated first blank.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, which is adapted for packingassemblies of articles and includes collating means arranged to receivearticles fed singly thereto and to collate said articles into successiveassemblies for packing, and assembly transfer means for transferringsuccessive assemblies of articles to said second means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said collating meanscomprises stationary support means adapted to receive successive singlearticles fed thereto whereby successive subassemblies of articles arebuilt up on said stationary support support means in operation, movablesupport means comprising a plurality of supports alignable in successionwith said stationary support means for the transfer of successivesub-assemblies of articles from said stationary support means tosuccessive ones of said movable supports so as to build up a pluralityof sub-assembly layers of articles on said movable support means toconstitute an assembly of articles, sub-assembly transfer meansoperative to transfer each successive sub-assembly of articles assembledon said stationary support means to a movable support aligned therewith,and indexing means operative to index said movable support means throughone increment of its movement subsequent to the transfer of eachsuccessive sub-assembly of articles to one of the movable supportsthereof, the said assembly transfer means being operative to transfereach successive assembly of articles assembled on said movable supportmeans to said second means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said stationary supportmeans comprises two shelves arranged to support each successive articleby engagement under spaced edge regions thereof; each of said movablesupports comprises two shelves arranged to support a sub-assembly ofarticles by engagement under spaced edge regions of the articles; saidsubassembly transfer means comprises pusher means mounted for movementbetween the shelves of said stationary support means; and said assemblytransfer means comprises pusher means movable between the shelves ofsaid movable supports.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third means isoperative to transfer said second blanks one by one to said combiningstation from a second blank storage station of the apparatus, and to layeach said second blank on each successive article or assembly ofarticles whilst the latter is at said combining station, subsequent tothe depositing of such article or assembly of articles on its associatedfirst blank.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said third means includespusher means operative to displace successive second blanks from thebottom of a stack at said second blank storage station on to conveyormeans in operation, said conveyor means being intermittently operativeto carry each suc-

1. A method of packing an article or an assembly of articles, including the steps of folding first and second blanks of foldable sheet material about said articles or assembly of articles so that the first blaNk provides three of the four side walls of a tubular case or carton enclosing said article or assembly of articles and the second blank provides the fourth side wall and end closure walls of such case or carton, and further including the step of folding connecting flaps, formed as extensions of the outer walls of said three walls provided by said first blank, to overlie the said fourth wall, and securing said flaps to said fourth wall; characterized in that the said article or assembly of articles is first engaged with said first and second blanks at a combining station, the said article or assembly of articles and the said first blank being fed to said combining station from different sides thereof and the said second blank being fed to the said combining station from a third side thereof in a direction at right angles to the respective directions of feed of said article or assembly of articles and said first blank, the combination of said article or assembly of articles and said blanks then being moved away from said combining station in the same direction as the direction of feed of said second blank, the said folding of the blanks about the article or assembly of articles and the said folding and securing of the said connecting flaps being effected at said combining station and during the said movement of the combination away from the latter, and the inward folding of the end closure walls being effected during a further movement of the combination at right angles to the direction of its movement out of the combining station.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a folding connecting flaps, formed as extensions of said end closure walls provided by said second blank, inwardly of said tubular case or carton and securing said end wall connecting flaps to the inside of the center one of said three side walls provided by said first blank, said folding and securing of said connecting flaps being effected during said further movement of the combination at right angles to the direction of its movement out of the combining station.
 3. Apparatus for automatically and repetitively packing articles or assemblies of articles, such apparatus comprising: means defining a combining station; first means for feeding first blanks of foldable sheet material one by one to said combining station; second means for feeding articles or assemblies of articles to be packed one by one to said combining station for engagement one with each of said blanks at such station; third means for engaging a second blank of foldable sheet material with each successive article or assembly of articles at said combining station; fourth means for folding said first blanks about each successive article or assembly of articles at said combining station so that each said first blank provides three of the four side walls of a tubular case or carton enclosing said article or assembly of articles and the second blank provides the fourth side wall thereof; fifth means displaced from said combining station for folding connecting flaps, formed as extensions of the outer walls of said three walls provided by said first blank, to overlie said fourth wall and for securing said flaps to said fourth wall; and sixth means displaced from said combining station for folding parts of said second blank inwardly to form end closure walls of said case or carton.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sixth means is also operative to fold connecting flaps formed as extensions of said end closure walls inwardly of the tubular case or carton and to secure said end wall connecting flaps to the inside face of the center one of said three side walls provided by said first blank.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, when applied to the packing of an assembly of similar articles, including the step of collating articles delivered singly on conveyor means to form such an assembly of articles.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first means is operative to transfer said first blanks one bY one to said combining station from a first blank storage station of the apparatus, said first means including sucker means operative to withdraw successive first blanks from the bottom of a stack at said first blank storage station, and kicker means operative to displace each successive blank so withdrawn into engagement with friction roller means operative to feed the blank to said combining station.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second means is operative to engage each successive article or assembly of articles with its associated first blank at said combining station by depositing said article or assembly or articles on the central one of the said three side walls defined by the blank, said second means comprising carrier means mounted for up and down movement above said combining station, such carrier means having an upper position of adjustment for receiving each successive article or assembly of articles to be packed and a lower position of adjustment for depositing the same on its associated first blank.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said carrier means comprises at least two shelves adapted to support each successive article or assembly of articles by engagement under spaced edge regions thereof, and including means operative to withdraw said shelves from under the article or assembly of articles when the carrier means is in its said lower position of adjustment so as to deposit the article or assembly of articles on its associated first blank.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, which is adapted for packing assemblies of articles and includes collating means arranged to receive articles fed singly thereto and to collate said articles into successive assemblies for packing, and assembly transfer means for transferring successive assemblies of articles to said second means.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said collating means comprises stationary support means adapted to receive successive single articles fed thereto whereby successive sub-assemblies of articles are built up on said stationary support support means in operation, movable support means comprising a plurality of supports alignable in succession with said stationary support means for the transfer of successive sub-assemblies of articles from said stationary support means to successive ones of said movable supports so as to build up a plurality of sub-assembly layers of articles on said movable support means to constitute an assembly of articles, sub-assembly transfer means operative to transfer each successive sub-assembly of articles assembled on said stationary support means to a movable support aligned therewith, and indexing means operative to index said movable support means through one increment of its movement subsequent to the transfer of each successive sub-assembly of articles to one of the movable supports thereof, the said assembly transfer means being operative to transfer each successive assembly of articles assembled on said movable support means to said second means.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said stationary support means comprises two shelves arranged to support each successive article by engagement under spaced edge regions thereof; each of said movable supports comprises two shelves arranged to support a sub-assembly of articles by engagement under spaced edge regions of the articles; said sub-assembly transfer means comprises pusher means mounted for movement between the shelves of said stationary support means; and said assembly transfer means comprises pusher means movable between the shelves of said movable supports.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third means is operative to transfer said second blanks one by one to said combining station from a second blank storage station of the apparatus, and to lay each said second blank on each successive article or assembly of articles whilst the latter is at said combining station, subsequent to the depositing of such article or assembly of articLes on its associated first blank.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said third means includes pusher means operative to displace successive second blanks from the bottom of a stack at said second blank storage station on to conveyor means in operation, said conveyor means being intermittently operative to carry each successive blank so displaced into said combining station. successive blank so displaced into said combining station.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further including means operative to apply and secure a cushioning pad to the inside face of each end closure wall of each of said second blanks before its engagement with an associated article or assembly of articles, said cushioning pad applying and securing means including pusher means operative to displace successive pairs of cushioning pads from the bottoms of two stacks of such pads on to said second blank conveyor means in operation, the drives to said pad pusher means and said second blank pusher means being linked so that each successive blank is laid on a pair of pads already laid on said conveyor means, adhesive applying means operative to apply adhesive to the upper face of each pad before the associated blank is laid thereon, and pressing means operative to press the end closure walls of each successive blank down on its associated pads to bond the same together before the blank is fed to the combining station.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said fourth means is situated at said combining station and comprises respective folding elements mounted for driven up and down pivotal movement one on each side of the position to be occupied by the central one of the said three side walls of each successive first blank at said station, so as when driven upwardly to be operative to fold up the outer ones of the three side walls of each successive blank about the opposite sides of an associated article or assembly of articles, and means automatically operative to interrupt the upward movement of said folding elements whilst the said second blank is being laid on each successive article or assembly of articles.
 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fifth means includes stationarily mounted folding means at a connecting flap folding station situated adjacent said combining station, and conveyor means operative to carry each successive combination of an article or assembly of articles and its two associated blanks through said folding station, one part of said conveyor means being arranged to support each successive first blank whilst it is at said combining station.
 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said fifth means further includes adhesive applying means arranged between said combining station and said connecting flap folding station and operative to apply adhesive to the faces of the said connecting flaps of each successive first blank before it enters such folding station, and the folding means at said folding station comprises two series of rollers operative to fold the respective connecting flaps of each successive first blank inwardly on to the side wall formed by the associated second blank as each said successive combination is carried through said folding station.
 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said fifth means further includes a compression station situated immediately downstream of said connecting flap folding station, the said conveyor means being arranged to carry each said successive combination through such compression station, and the mechanism at said compression station being operative to press the respective connecting flaps of the first blank of each successive combination down on to the said fourth wall formed by the associated second blank whilst the said combination is moving through said compression station.
 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fifth means includes stationarily mounted folding means at a connecting flap folding station situated adjacent said combining station, and conveyor meanS operative to carry each successive combination of an article or assembly of articles and its two associated blanks through said folding station, one part of said conveyor means being arranged to support each successive first blank whilst it is at said combining station; and said sixth means includes fixed folding means at a final folding station situated adjacent the downstream end of said conveyor means, and further conveyor means extending at right angles to the first-mentioned conveyor means and arranged to receive each said successive combination from said first-mentioned conveyor and to carry the same through said final folding station.
 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said sixth means further includes adhesive applying means operative to apply adhesive to the respective connecting flaps of the second blank of each said successive combination before the engagement of said flaps with the said center one of the three side walls defined by the associated first blank.
 21. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of folding the two outer walls of the three side walls defined by the said first blank upwardly through less than 90* at the said combining station, then engaging the said article or assembly of articles with the said first blank by depositing the article or assembly or articles on the central one of the said three side walls defined by said blank, then laying the said second blank on top of the said article or assembly of articles, and thereafter completing the upward folding of the said two outer walls of said first blank into positions to form the other two of said three side walls. 